Automatic fire-extinguishing- apparatus



E. L. THOMPSON, 1A. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2!, I914.

Patented May 6, 1919.

WITNESSES A TTOR/VEYS' MASNINGYO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EVERETT L. THOMPSON, JR., OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0SYPHO-CI-IEMICAL SPRINKLER CORPORATION, OF CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed January 21, 1914. Serial No. 813,360.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EVERETT L. THOMPSON, J12,a citizen of the United States, and resident of Dover, Morris county,New Jersey, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating toAutomatic Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichforms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to chemical fire extinguishingapparatus in which the distributing system comprising automatic or otherdistributing devices may, if desired, be of the dry pipe type of systemand may have connected therewith any suitable arrangement to cause asuction or pressure reduction on the emergency operation of the system;A chemical pressure liquid supply tank maybe connected to thedistributing system to supply the same under emergency conditions andthis tankmay be put into operation by withdrawing the acid from an acidchamber by siphon action, the siphon preferably having its discharge endextending into suitable liquid preferably into a small amount of similaracid in a priming distributing cup which minimizes the chance ofpremature contact of the acid and can bonate material when the suctionconnection acts on the siphon.

In the accompanying drawing showing several illustrative embodiments ofthis invention in a somewhat diagrammatic way Figure 1 is a verticalsection.

Fig. 2 is a similarview showing a modified construction.

The distributing system may comprise one or more suitable supply pipesor risers l with which any desired number and arrangement ofdistributing pipes, suchas 2, may be connected to support the automaticsprinkler heads or other distributing devices 3 at the desired points.Also, if desired, suitable hose connections 5 may be included in thedistributing system so as to operate the connected hose lines when thecorresponding valves 1 are opened. The distributing system is preferablythough not necessarily of the dry pipe type and may be supplied withextinguishing liquid from a suitable pressure liquid supply tank, suchas 8, which may be charged with water or other suitable eXtinguishingliquid 22 in which, if desired, the carbonate material may be directlydissolved so as to create pressure in the tank when the sulfuric acid orthe like is. supplied. The distributing system may be connected with thetank in any suitable way as through a connection or pipe 9 extendingadjacent the bottom of the tank and for dry pipe work it is in somecases de sirable to have a suitable dry pipe or check valve 6 arrangedbetween the tank and the system, the valve 7 being if desired normallyheld on its seat by spring pressure suiiicient to require a few poundsto initially open it and thereafter allow the substantially free passageof the liquid into the system, and it is of course understood thatsuitable reduced area venting or equalizing connections may be formedbetween the air space of the tank and of the distributing system in anydesired way to take care of temperature expansion.

The acid may be supplied to the tank by siphon action in many ways andif desired the acid chamber 15 of lead, porcelain or other suitablematerial may be mounted in a removable acidcasing 1O normally bolted orotherwise secured to the upper part of the tank itself so that when thecasing is removed the acid chamber is simultaneously removed andsupported on the lower portion or support 18 of this casing. The aciddischarging siphon 14 preferably of lead or other acid resistingmaterial may be of such size as to discharge the acid at the desiredrate and may have its admission leg 17 arranged within the acid chamberadjacent the bottom of the acid 16 therein, and have its discharge enddipping into liquid preferably into some liquid which does notundesirably react on contact with the acid, such for instance, as anadditional priming charge of the same acid used in the acid chamber.This may be conveniently arranged by providing an acid primingdistributing cup or container 20 supported from the discharge end of thesiphon itself orby a suitable support, such as 19, from the acid chamberor both, this cup being charged with the desired amount 21' of suitableliquid, such as sulfuric acid, etc. The distributing cup should have itsupper edge, at least, above the normal level of the carbonate or otherliquid 22 in the tank so as to prevent undesirable mixing and the acidchamber should be sufficiently higher so that the normal level of theacid 16 therein will be a foot or so above where no special arrangementsare used to create an air pressure on the acid in the chamber tofacilitate its discharge under emergency conditions. With thearrangement shown the acid chamber is located above the body of the tankso as to give the desired initial starting and discharge head as soon asthe siphon actlon 1s init ated by a suitable suction, that is to say, apressure reduction created in or in connection with the distributingsystem under emergency conditions in any suitable way. This suction maybe caused merely by the release of the normal air pressure in the drypipe sys tem and may operate through a suitable suction connection 11connected with the acid discharging siphon 14 preferably somewhat belowits highest point so that this suction action draws the acid into theadmission end ofthe siphon and up over its top so that it descends, andby gravity and this suction action starts the regular siphon operation.It is desirable to provide an automatic cutoff valve in the suctionconnection at any convenient point far enough above the point where itmeets the siphon so as to prevent interference with the starting action,and for this purpose the valve casing 12 may if desired be mountedwithin the acid casing 10 in some instances, so that the float valve 13will automatically close when the chemical pressure increasessufiiciently in the tank so as to force the acid up throughthisconnection. hen acid is used in the priming cup 20 it is of course drawnup into the siphon somewhat by the suction used to start the siphonaction and when similar acid is used in both this cup and the acidchamber there is no possibility of undesirable action when the acid fromthe chamber first starts down through the siphon. Its continueddischarge of course first fills the priming cup and overflows the samearound the edges which may, if desired, be fluted or otherwise formed soas to distribute the acid more or less throughout the tank, the violentchemical action taking place with the carbonate material alsocontributing to this distributing or mixing action.

Other means, such as a liquid seal or valve may be employed to preventundesirable or premature mixing of the acid and carbonate material inthe tank when starting the siphon and Fig. 2 shows another sucharrangement in which the discharge end of the siphon enterstllQCiIIbOIlfltG liquid itself while undesirable mixture of the acid andliquid under starting conditions is minimized or prevented by the use ofany suitable trap and seal of mercury, etc., in connection with thisdischarge operation of the siphon. The discharge end or portion 27 ofthe siphon may in this case be formed or lined with vitreous materialand may be connected by a suitable coupling 23 of any description to theupper portion of the siphon 14. This lower portion of the siphonpreferably within the carbonate liquid 22 of I the mixing tank is formedwith a suitable 'lthis tubular member so'as to form a chamber or pocketadapted to contain enough mercury or other suitable liquid 25 to exertthe desired action on starting the siphon by the suction througlrthesuction connection 11 which may in this instance be provided with anautomatic cut-off or float valve 13 above and outside of the removableacid chamber 10. Under these conditions the suction draws the acid 16into the admission end 17 of the siphon so that it rises and fills theupper portion thereof, the mercury forming the seal being simultaneouslysucked up a few inches beyond its normal position in the trap in thedischarge leg of the siphon so that the gravity head thus caused by themercury is sufficient to equal the suction required to draw the acidthrough the upper part of the siphon and enable it to start down thedischarge leg in which it attains suflicient velocity to push out themercury seal, which may, however, together with any slight air cushionthat may be above the mercury serve to prevent undesirable contact ofthe acid and carbonate liquor within the siphon or prevent properstarting thereof.

This invention has been described in connection with a number ofillustrative embodiments, forms, elements, materials, parts andarrangements, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not ofcourse to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is'set forth in the appended claims.

No broader claims are made herein to the automatic fluid or other siphonactuating connection with the distributing system, since that waspreviously invented in connection with generally similar chemical mixingdevices by John R. Hamilton and generally described in his Patent No.1,242,102, dated Oct. 2, 1917, relating to chemical fire extinguishingapparatus.

1. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a dry pipe distributingsystem comprising automatic sprinkler heads and hose connectiondistributing devices, a chemical pressure liquid supply tank chargedwith extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemicalmixing devices comprising an acid casing communicating with said tankand containing an acid chamber, a siphon communicating with said acidchamber and having its discharge end communicating with said tank, asuction connection having an automatic float cut-ofl valve thereinconnected to said siphon to start the same and connected to saiddistributing system to be actuated under emergency conditions, and meansfor preventing the undesirable contact-of the acid and carbonatematerial in the siphon on starting the same comprising a primingdistributing cup mounted on the discharge end of said siphon andcontaining acid into which the discharge end of said siphon enters.

2. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising automatic distributing devices, a chemical pressure liquidsupply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonatematerial and chemical mixing devices comprising an acid casingcommunicating with said tank and containing an acid chamber, a siphoncommunicating with said acid-chamher and having its discharge endcommunieating with said tank, a suction connection connected to saidsiphon to start the same and connected to said distributing system to beactuated under emergency conditions and means for preventing theundesirable contact of the acid and carbonate material in the siphon onstarting the same comprising a priming distributing cup mounted on thedischarge end of said siphon and containing acid into which thedischarge end of said siphon enters.

3. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a chemical pressure liquid 7 supplytank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material andchemical mixing devices comprising an acid chamber, a siphoncommunicating with said acid chamber and having its discharge endcommunicating with said tank, a suction connection, connected to saidsiphon to start the same, and means for preventing the undesirablecontact of the acid and carbonate material in the siphon on starting thesame comprising a priming cup mounted on the discharge end of saidsiphon and containing liquid into which the discharge end of said siphonenters.

4. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemcomprising distributing devices, a chemical pressure liquid supply tankcharged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material andchemical mixing devices comprising an acid chamber communicating withsaid tank and containing acid, a siphon communicating with said acidchamber and having its dis charge end communicating with said tank, asuction connection having an automatic cut off valve therein connectedto said siphon to start the same and connected to said distributingsystem to be actuated under emergency conditions and means forpreventing the undesirable contact of the acid and corbonate material inthe siphon on starting the same comprising a priming container mountedon the discharge end of said siphon and containing liquid neutral tosaid acid into which the discharge end of said siphon enters.

In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a chemical pressureliquidsupply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonatematerial and chemical mixing devices comprising an acid chambercommunicating with said tank and containing acid, a siphon communicatingwith said acid chamber and having its' discharge end co1nmunicating withsaid tank, a suction connection connected to said siphon to start thesame, and means for preventing the unde sirable contact of the acid andcarbonate material in the siphon on starting the same which thedischarge end of said siphon enters.

7. In chemical fire extinguishing appara tus, a distributing system, achemical pressure liquid supply tank charged with can tinguishing-liquidcontaining crabonate material and chemical mixing devices comprising anacid chamber communicating with said tank, a siphon communicating withsaid acid chamber and having its discharge end immersed in liquid, asuction connection having an automatic cut-off valve therein connectedto said siphon to start the same and connected to said distributingsystem to be actuated under emergency conditions.

8. In chemical fire extinguishing appara tus, a chemical pressure tankcharged with liquid containing carbonate material and chemical mixingdevices comprising an acid chamber communicating with said tank, asiphon communicating with said acid chamber and having its discharge endextending below the normal level of the liquid in said tank, a suctionconnection connected to said siphon to start the same, and means forpreventing the undesirable contact of the acid and carbonate material inthe siphon on starting the same.

9. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon and communicating means comprising asuction connection with said distributing system to automatically startsaid siphon on the emergency condition of said system and eiiect themixture of pressure producing chemicals.

10. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, cooperating chemical mixing devices including asiphon and means connected to said siphon between its ends toautomatically start said siphon on the emergency operation of saidsystem and efiectthe mixture of the pressure producing chemicals.

11. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon normally sealed With liquid adjacent bothits ends and means connected to said siphon between its ends andcomprising a suction connection with said distributing system toautomatically start said siphon on the emergency condition of saidsystem and effect the mixture of pressure producing chemicals.

12. In chemical fire extinguishing appa ratus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon normally sealed with liquid adjacent bothits ends and means connected to said siphon between its ends andcomprising a suction connection to start said siphon and efiect themixture of pressure producing chemicals.

13. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon normally sealed adjacent both its ends andmeans connected to said siphon between its ends and comprising a suctionconnection with said distributing system to automatically start saidsiphon on the emergency condition of said system and effect the mixtureof pressure producing chemicals.

14. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising an acid container and communicating siphon and meanscooperating with said siphon and comprising a fluid suction connectionbetween said siphon and said distributing system to automatically startsaid siphon on the emergency condition of said system and effect themixture of pressure producing chemicals.

15. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquidcontaining carbonate material andchemical mixing devices comprising anacid chamber communicating with said tank, a siphon communicating withsaid acid chamber and having its discharge end immersed in liquid, asuction connection having an automatic cut-off device therein connectedto said siphon to start the same and connected to said distributingsystem to be actuated under emergency conditions:

16. In chemical fireextinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices c0- operating with saidtank and comprising a siphon normally sealed with liquid adjacent bothits ends, means connected to said siphon between its ends and comprisinga suctionconnection to start said siphon and effect the mixture ofpressure producing chemicals, anda cut oil device in said suctionconnection to prevent undesirable flow of liquid.

17. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a chemical pressure tank,chemical mixing devices cooperating with said tank and comprising asiphon normally sealed adjacent both its ends and means connected tosaid siphon between its ends and comprising a suction connection tostart said siphon and effect the mixture of pressure producingchemicals.

18. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a chemical pressure tank,chemical mixing devices cooperating with said tank and comprising asiphon having its discharge end normally sealed with liquid, andmeansconnected to said siphon between its ends and comprising a suctionconnection to start said siphon and eflect the mixture of pressureproducing chemicals.

19. In chemical fireextinguishing apparatus, a chemical pressure tank,chemical mixing devices cooperating with said tank and comprising asiphon having its discharge endnormally sealed, and means connected tosaid siphon between its ends and comprising a suction connection tostart said siphon and effect the mixture of pressure producingchemicals.

20. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon normally having its discharge end sealedwith liquid to prevent undesirable entrance of fluid into such dischargeend and means connected to said siphon between its ends and comprising asuction connection with said distributing system to automatically startsaid siphon and effect the mixture of pressure producing chemicals onthe emergency condition of said system.

21. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system, achemical pressure tank, chemical mixing devices cooperating with saidtank and comprising a siphon having its discharge end normally sealed toprevent undesirable entrance of fluid into such discharge end and meansconnected to said siphon between its ends and comprising a suctionconnection with said distributing system to automatically start saidsiphon and effect the mixture of pressure producing chemicals on theemergency condition of said system.

22. A fire extinguishing apparatus having a tank for containing asolution of fire extinguishing element, an acid for reacting with saidfire extinguishing element to form a gas to expel said fireextinguishing element, a receptacle for containing said acid, a siphontube for conveying said acid to said fire extinguishing element when afire occurs, and means for initiating siphon action by said siphon tubefor conveying acid to said fire extinguishing element, said initiatingmeans comprising a discharge portion, a pipe connection connecting saiddischarge portion with said siphon tube,there normally being an airspace in said siphon tube to normally maintain the same inoperative, thedischarge portion being normally closed, and means for maintaining thepressure in said pipe connection when said discharge portion is closed,the opening ofthesaid dischargeporclosed, the opening of the saiddischarge portion operating to drop the pressure in said pipe connectionthereby to draw up acid a distance through said siphon tube to initiatethe siphon action.

23. A fire extinguishing apparatus having a tank for containing asolution of fire extinguishing element, an acid for reacting with saidfire extinguishing element to form a gas to expel said fireextinguishing element, a receptacle for containing said acid, a siphontube for conveying said acid to said fire extinguishing element, anormally closed discharge portion, a pipe connection connecting saiddischarge portion with said tank, means for supplying pressure to saidpipe connection, a second pipe connection connecting said first pipeconnection with said siphon tube, there being a valve chamber in saidsecond pipe connection, an inclination in said second pipe connection,the connection of said second pipe connection with said first pipeconnection being at a higher level than the level of the connection ofsaid second pipe connection with the siphon tube, and a float valve insaid valve chamber adapted to rise and shut 03 communication throughsaid second pipe connection as soon as the same is filled with the acidcarried thereto by the siphon action, there normally being an air spacein said siphon tube to normally maintain the same inoperative, theopening of said discharge portion operating to drop the pressure in saidpipe connection thereby to force the acid through said siphon tube toinitiate the siphon action.

24. A fire extinguishing apparatus having a tank for containing asolution of fire extinguishing element, an acid for reacting with saidfire extinguishing element to form a gas to expel said fireextinguishing element, a receptacle for containing said acid, a siphontube for conveying said acid to said fire extinguishing element, asprinkler arm, fusible heads on said sprinkler arm, a hose connected tosaid sprinkler arm, control means for controlling the discharge throughsaid hose, a pipe connection connecting said sprinkler arm with saidtank, means for supplying pressure to said pipe connection, a secondpipe connection connecting the first pipe connection with said siphontube, there normally being an air space in said siphon tube to normallymaintain the same inoperative, the fusible heads and controlling meansbeing normally closed, the opening either of said .fusible heads or ofsaid controlling means operating to relieve the pressure in said firstpipe connection and thereby to force the acid through said siphon tubeto initiate the siphon action.

EVERETT L. THOMPSON, J R. Witnesses: v

HARRY L. DUNCAN, Jnssm B. KAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner t Patents, Washington, D. G."

